Royals rally, Sale takes loss for Sox

White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) is taken from the game by manager Robin Ventura during the seventh inning Friday against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City,Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Salvador Perez hit a tiebreaking two-run double with two out in the seventh inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the White Sox 4-2 on Friday night.

Luis Mendoza pitched seven effective innings as Kansas City won for the third time in four games. Lorenzo Cain hit a solo homer.

Paul Konerko hit a solo drive for Chicago after being activated from the seven-day concussion disabled list. It was Konerko's first game since he was struck by a Jarrod Dyson elbow while covering first base on Aug. 7 against the Royals.

White Sox ace Chris Sale (14-4) allowed four runs and nine hits in 6 2-3 innings. The 6-foot-6 left-hander dropped to 11-2 with a 2.60 ERA in his last 15 starts.

Gordon Beckham hit a two-out RBI single in the fifth to give the White Sox a 2-1 lead, but Billy Butler belted a tying solo drive in the sixth for his 25th homer.

The Royals grabbed the lead for good in the seventh. Mike Moustakas and Alcides Escobar hit consecutive one-out singles to put runners on corners. Escobar then stole second when Alex Gordon struck out for the second out.

After Butler was walked intentionally, Perez fell behind in the count 1-2 before rifling a double off the fence in left.

Mendoza (7-8) allowed four hits, struck out six and walked one. Kelvin Herrera worked out of a jam in the eighth and Greg Holland finished for his fifth save in six opportunities.

The White Sox put runners on the corners with two down in the ninth, but Dayan Viciedo flied out to end the game.

Chicago got a scare in the first inning when a wicked Escobar one-hopper struck Sale in his pitching hand. That prompted a visit from manager Robin Ventura and a trainer, but Sale remained in the game after a couple of warmup pitches.

Royals second baseman Chris Getz broke his left thumb in the fifth inning when he was hit by a pitch while bunting foul. He is scheduled to have surgery Saturday and is done for the season.

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